Contact Lens Container Cap Pressure Venting Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contact lens care systems face challenges in effectively discharging oxygen produced during the disinfection process using hydrogen peroxide-based solutions, leading to inadequate ventilation and potential leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A lens care container design featuring a cap with a pressure-release vent and an interior gas vent path, coupled with an anti-rotation mechanism, allows gas generated during disinfection to escape through a channel, preventing cap rotation and ensuring secure sealing and efficient gas discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is sealed tightly to prevent leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but gas discharge capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure-release vent is pre-positioned in the cap's top panel within a deflection region. This vent remains sealed during normal operation but automatically opens when internal gas pressure exceeds a threshold, allowing proactive gas release without compromising the sealed environment for disinfection
Solution Approach 2:
The cap's top panel incorporates a deflection region with flexible material that can bend and deform. When gas pressure builds up, this flexible region deflects to open the pressure-release vent, creating a dynamic sealing mechanism that adapts to internal pressure changes while maintaining the water-tight seal during low-pressure phases
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the cap structure includes complex venting mechanisms, then gas discharge capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-release vent is integrated directly into the cap's top panel structure, merging the venting function with the cap body. The deflection region is formed as part of the cap's molded structure, eliminating separate moving parts or complex mechanical assemblies while achieving automatic pressure-responsive venting
Solution Approach 2:
The cap's flexible deflection region automatically responds to internal gas pressure without external control. When pressure builds up, the flexible material self-actuates to open the vent, and when pressure equalizes, it self-closes to restore the seal, eliminating the need for external actuators or complex control mechanisms
3Reliability
If the lens holder is securely sealed to the cap, then sealing reliability is improved, but gas venting efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is positioned at a specific location on the lens holder stem, creating a localized sealing interface. This allows the majority of the lens holder-cap interface to remain open for gas flow, while maintaining a focused seal point that prevents leakage without blocking the gas vent path through the cap's pressure-release mechanism
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables effective ventilation of gases produced during disinfection, preventing leakage and ensuring a secure, efficient cleaning and disinfection process for contact lenses.
Implementation Method 1
The oxygen produced from decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the cleaning solution typically must be allowed to discharge from the container in some manner
Implementation Method 2
a volume of gas generated from the cleaning solution passes through the at least one channel vent into the interior gas vent path to apply force against the deflection region and disengage the lens holder seal from the cap pressure-release vent
Data Source
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AI summary
A lens care container that includes a container cup and a cap that is removably attachable to the container cup to cover an opening in the container cup. The cap includes a top panel and a coupling hub. The top panel includes a pressure-release vent positioned within a deflection region. The coupling hub defines an interior gas vent path. A volume of gas generated from cleaning solution within the cup passes into the interior gas vent path to disengage a lens holder seal from a cap pressure-release vent, allowing the gas to exit through the cap pressure-release vent.